| 1 | 1 | | 86R7180 BEE-D |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Gutierrez H.B. No. 3043 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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| 7 | 7 | | relating to the operation of 12 casinos in this state by licensed |
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| 8 | 8 | | persons in counties that have approved casino gaming; requiring |
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| 9 | 9 | | occupational licenses; creating criminal offenses and providing |
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| 10 | 10 | | other penalties; authorizing fees. |
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| 11 | 11 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 12 | 12 | | SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 13, Occupations Code, is |
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| 13 | 13 | | amended by adding Chapter 2006 to read as follows: |
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| 14 | 14 | | CHAPTER 2006. CASINO GAMING |
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| 15 | 15 | | SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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| 16 | 16 | | Sec. 2006.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: |
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| 17 | 17 | | (1) "Casino game" means any game of chance, including |
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| 18 | 18 | | a game of chance in which the outcome may be partially determined by |
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| 19 | 19 | | skill or ability, that involves the making of a bet, as defined by |
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| 20 | 20 | | Section 47.01, Penal Code. |
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| 21 | 21 | | (2) "Casino gaming" means the conduct of casino games |
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| 22 | 22 | | authorized under this chapter. |
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| 23 | 23 | | (3) "Casino gaming manager" means a person licensed |
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| 24 | 24 | | under this chapter to manage casino gaming operations at a location |
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| 25 | 25 | | authorized under this chapter to conduct casino gaming in this |
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| 26 | 26 | | state. |
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| 27 | 27 | | (4) "Commission" means the Texas Lottery Commission. |
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| 28 | 28 | | (5) "Executive director" means the executive director |
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| 29 | 29 | | of the commission. |
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| 30 | 30 | | (6) "Gaming vendor" means a person licensed under this |
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| 31 | 31 | | chapter to provide, maintain, manufacture, distribute, sell, or |
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| 32 | 32 | | lease casino gaming equipment and services to a person licensed to |
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| 33 | 33 | | operate casino gaming in this state. |
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| 34 | 34 | | Sec. 2006.002. APPLICABILITY OF FEDERAL LAW. All shipments |
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| 35 | 35 | | of casino gaming equipment and devices into, out of, or within this |
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| 36 | 36 | | state in connection with casino gaming are legal shipments of the |
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| 37 | 37 | | devices and are exempt from the provisions of 15 U.S.C. Sections |
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| 38 | 38 | | 1171-1178 prohibiting the transportation of gambling devices. |
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| 39 | 39 | | SUBCHAPTER B. ADMINISTRATION |
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| 40 | 40 | | Sec. 2006.051. POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSION AND |
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| 41 | 41 | | EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR. (a) The commission and executive director |
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| 42 | 42 | | have broad authority and shall exercise strict control over and |
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| 43 | 43 | | closely monitor casino gaming in this state to protect the public |
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| 44 | 44 | | health, welfare, and safety and ensure integrity, security, |
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| 45 | 45 | | honesty, and fairness in the conduct and administration of casino |
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| 46 | 46 | | gaming. |
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| 47 | 47 | | (b) The executive director may contract with or employ a |
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| 48 | 48 | | person to perform a function, activity, or service in connection |
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| 49 | 49 | | with casino gaming as prescribed by the executive director. |
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| 50 | 50 | | (c) The commission shall as necessary to protect the public |
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| 51 | 51 | | health and safety: |
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| 52 | 52 | | (1) monitor casino gaming operations on a continuing |
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| 53 | 53 | | basis; |
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| 54 | 54 | | (2) establish standards for: |
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| 55 | 55 | | (A) the operation of casino gaming; |
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| 56 | 56 | | (B) the provision of casino gaming equipment and |
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| 57 | 57 | | services; and |
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| 58 | 58 | | (C) the establishment and maintenance of casino |
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| 59 | 59 | | gaming facilities; and |
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| 60 | 60 | | (3) inspect and examine all casino gaming facilities, |
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| 61 | 61 | | equipment, services, records, and operations to ensure compliance |
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| 62 | 62 | | with the standards established by the commission. |
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| 63 | 63 | | Sec. 2006.052. RULES AND PROCEDURES. (a) The commission |
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| 64 | 64 | | shall adopt all rules necessary to supervise casino gaming in this |
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| 65 | 65 | | state, administer this chapter, and ensure the security of casino |
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| 66 | 66 | | gaming operations in this state. |
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| 67 | 67 | | (b) The commission shall establish procedures for the |
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| 68 | 68 | | approval, monitoring, and inspection of casino gaming operations as |
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| 69 | 69 | | necessary to protect the public health, welfare, and safety and the |
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| 70 | 70 | | integrity of this state and to prevent financial loss to this state. |
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| 71 | 71 | | Sec. 2006.053. FEES. The commission shall establish the |
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| 72 | 72 | | application, license, and license renewal fees for each type of |
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| 73 | 73 | | license issued under this chapter in amounts reasonable and |
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| 74 | 74 | | necessary to cover the state's costs incurred in the administration |
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| 75 | 75 | | of this chapter and the regulation of casino gaming. |
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| 76 | 76 | | Sec. 2006.054. ANNUAL REPORT. The commission shall make an |
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| 77 | 77 | | annual report to the governor, the comptroller, and the legislature |
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| 78 | 78 | | that provides a summary of casino gaming revenues and expenses for |
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| 79 | 79 | | the state fiscal year preceding the report. The report must be in |
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| 80 | 80 | | the form and reported at the time provided by the General |
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| 81 | 81 | | Appropriations Act. |
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| 82 | 82 | | Sec. 2006.055. INVESTIGATIONS. The commission may |
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| 83 | 83 | | investigate a violation or alleged violation of: |
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| 84 | 84 | | (1) this chapter by any person; or |
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| 85 | 85 | | (2) the penal laws of this state in connection with the |
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| 86 | 86 | | administration of this chapter, the regulation of casino gaming, or |
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| 87 | 87 | | the conduct of casino gaming by a person authorized to operate |
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| 88 | 88 | | casino gaming under this chapter. |
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| 89 | 89 | | SUBCHAPTER C. CASINO GAMING |
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| 90 | 90 | | Sec. 2006.101. CASINO GAMING OPERATOR LICENSE. (a) A |
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| 91 | 91 | | person may not conduct casino gaming in this state unless: |
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| 92 | 92 | | (1) the person holds a casino gaming operator license |
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| 93 | 93 | | issued under this chapter; and |
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| 94 | 94 | | (2) the casino is in a county in which a majority of |
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| 95 | 95 | | the voters of the county voted in favor of authorizing casino gaming |
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| 96 | 96 | | in that county in accordance with Subchapter F of this chapter or |
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| 97 | 97 | | Section 47a(b), Article III, Texas Constitution. |
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| 98 | 98 | | (b) A person issued a casino gaming operator license under |
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| 99 | 99 | | this chapter may operate only one casino under the license. |
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| 100 | 100 | | (c) The commission may not issue more than 12 casino gaming |
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| 101 | 101 | | operator licenses under this chapter as provided by Section 47a, |
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| 102 | 102 | | Article III, Texas Constitution. |
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| 103 | 103 | | Sec. 2006.102. OTHER LICENSES REQUIRED. (a) A person may |
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| 104 | 104 | | not provide, maintain, manufacture, distribute, sell, or lease |
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| 105 | 105 | | casino games or casino gaming equipment or services for use in this |
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| 106 | 106 | | state unless the person holds a gaming vendor license issued under |
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| 107 | 107 | | this chapter. |
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| 108 | 108 | | (b) A person may not act as a casino gaming manager for a |
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| 109 | 109 | | gaming facility in this state unless the person holds a casino |
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| 110 | 110 | | gaming manager license issued under this chapter. |
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| 111 | 111 | | (c) Unless the person holds the required gaming employee |
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| 112 | 112 | | license, a person may not act as a gaming employee in any gaming |
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| 113 | 113 | | employee position for which the commission by rule requires a |
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| 114 | 114 | | person to hold a license issued under this chapter. |
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| 115 | 115 | | Sec. 2006.103. GAMING VENDOR LICENSE. (a) The commission |
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| 116 | 116 | | shall issue a gaming vendor license to an eligible person with the |
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| 117 | 117 | | resources and experience required to provide casino games or casino |
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| 118 | 118 | | gaming equipment and services for casino gaming operations |
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| 119 | 119 | | authorized under this chapter. |
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| 120 | 120 | | (b) The commission by rule shall establish the minimum |
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| 121 | 121 | | qualifications for a gaming vendor license to ensure a competitive |
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| 122 | 122 | | market for casino gaming equipment and services and the |
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| 123 | 123 | | availability of reliable casino gaming equipment and services, |
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| 124 | 124 | | consistent with the health and safety of the public. |
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| 125 | 125 | | Sec. 2006.104. CASINO GAMING MANAGER LICENSE. (a) The |
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| 126 | 126 | | commission shall issue a casino gaming manager license to an |
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| 127 | 127 | | eligible person with the qualifications and experience required to |
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| 128 | 128 | | manage casino gaming operations under this chapter. |
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| 129 | 129 | | (b) The commission by rule shall establish the minimum |
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| 130 | 130 | | qualifications for a casino gaming manager license necessary to |
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| 131 | 131 | | protect the health and safety of the public. |
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| 132 | 132 | | Sec. 2006.105. GAMING EMPLOYEE LICENSE. The commission by |
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| 133 | 133 | | rule and as necessary to protect the health and safety of the public |
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| 134 | 134 | | may establish other gaming employee positions that require a |
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| 135 | 135 | | license issued under this chapter to act in those positions. |
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| 136 | 136 | | Sec. 2006.106. BACKGROUND INVESTIGATIONS. Before issuing a |
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| 137 | 137 | | license to a person under this chapter, the commission shall |
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| 138 | 138 | | conduct a background investigation that includes obtaining |
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| 139 | 139 | | criminal history record information of the person seeking the |
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| 140 | 140 | | license to assist the commission in determining the person's |
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| 141 | 141 | | eligibility or suitability for the license. |
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| 142 | 142 | | SUBCHAPTER D. REVENUE |
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| 143 | 143 | | Sec. 2006.151. STATE CASINO GAMING ACCOUNT. The state |
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| 144 | 144 | | casino gaming account is a special account in the general revenue |
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| 145 | 145 | | fund. The account consists of all revenue received by the |
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| 146 | 146 | | commission from casino gaming, fees received under this chapter, |
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| 147 | 147 | | and all money credited to the account from any other fund or source |
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| 148 | 148 | | under law. |
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| 149 | 149 | | SUBCHAPTER E. OFFENSES; PENALTIES |
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| 150 | 150 | | Sec. 2006.201. MANIPULATION OR TAMPERING. (a) A person |
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| 151 | 151 | | commits an offense if the person intentionally or knowingly |
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| 152 | 152 | | manipulates the outcome of a casino game, the amount of a casino |
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| 153 | 153 | | game prize, or the operation of a casino gaming device by physical, |
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| 154 | 154 | | electronic, or other means, other than in accordance with |
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| 155 | 155 | | commission rules. |
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| 156 | 156 | | (b) An offense under this section is a felony of the third |
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| 157 | 157 | | degree. |
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| 158 | 158 | | Sec. 2006.202. SALE OF CASINO GAME TO PERSON YOUNGER THAN 18 |
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| 159 | 159 | | YEARS OF AGE. (a) A casino gaming manager or an employee or agent |
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| 160 | 160 | | of a casino gaming manager commits an offense if the person |
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| 161 | 161 | | intentionally or knowingly: |
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| 162 | 162 | | (1) sells or offers to sell a play of a casino game to |
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| 163 | 163 | | an individual the person knows is younger than 18 years of age or |
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| 164 | 164 | | allows the individual to purchase a play of a casino game; or |
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| 165 | 165 | | (2) pays money or issues a credit slip or other |
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| 166 | 166 | | winnings for a play of a casino game to an individual the person |
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| 167 | 167 | | knows is younger than 18 years of age. |
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| 168 | 168 | | (b) An individual who is younger than 18 years of age |
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| 169 | 169 | | commits an offense if the individual: |
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| 170 | 170 | | (1) purchases a play of a casino game; |
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| 171 | 171 | | (2) accepts money, a credit slip, or other payment of |
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| 172 | 172 | | winnings for play of a casino game; or |
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| 173 | 173 | | (3) falsely represents the individual to be 18 years |
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| 174 | 174 | | of age or older by displaying evidence of age that is false or |
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| 175 | 175 | | fraudulent or misrepresents in any way the individual's age in |
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| 176 | 176 | | order to purchase a play of a casino game. |
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| 177 | 177 | | (c) An offense under Subsection (a) is a Class B |
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| 178 | 178 | | misdemeanor. |
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| 179 | 179 | | (d) An offense under Subsection (b) is a misdemeanor |
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| 180 | 180 | | punishable by a fine not to exceed $250. |
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| 181 | 181 | | Sec. 2006.203. DISCIPLINARY ACTION. (a) The commission |
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| 182 | 182 | | may refuse to issue a license or may revoke, suspend, or refuse to |
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| 183 | 183 | | renew a license or may reprimand a license holder for a violation of |
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| 184 | 184 | | this chapter, other state law, or a commission rule. |
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| 185 | 185 | | (b) If the commission proposes to take action against a |
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| 186 | 186 | | license holder or applicant under Subsection (a), the license |
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| 187 | 187 | | holder or applicant is entitled to notice and a hearing. |
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| 188 | 188 | | (c) The commission may place on probation subject to |
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| 189 | 189 | | reasonable conditions a person whose license is suspended under |
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| 190 | 190 | | this section. |
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| 191 | 191 | | (d) The commission may summarily suspend a license issued |
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| 192 | 192 | | under this chapter in the same manner as the commission is |
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| 193 | 193 | | authorized to suspend a license under Section 466.160, Government |
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| 194 | 194 | | Code, if the commission determines that the action is necessary to |
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| 195 | 195 | | maintain the integrity, security, or fairness of casino gaming. |
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| 196 | 196 | | (e) The commission by rule shall develop a system for |
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| 197 | 197 | | monitoring a license holder's compliance with this chapter. |
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| 198 | 198 | | Sec. 2006.204. ADMINISTRATIVE PENALTY. (a) The commission |
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| 199 | 199 | | may impose an administrative penalty against a person who violates |
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| 200 | 200 | | this chapter or a rule or order adopted by the commission under this |
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| 201 | 201 | | chapter in the same manner as the commission is authorized to impose |
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| 202 | 202 | | an administrative penalty under Subchapter M, Chapter 2001. |
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| 203 | 203 | | (b) The amount of the administrative penalty may not exceed |
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| 204 | 204 | | $1,000 for each violation. Each day a violation continues or occurs |
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| 205 | 205 | | may be considered a separate violation for purposes of imposing a |
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| 206 | 206 | | penalty. |
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| 207 | 207 | | (c) In determining the amount of the penalty, the executive |
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| 208 | 208 | | director shall consider: |
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| 209 | 209 | | (1) the seriousness of the violation, including the |
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| 210 | 210 | | nature, circumstances, extent, and gravity of the violation; |
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| 211 | 211 | | (2) the history of previous violations; |
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| 212 | 212 | | (3) the amount necessary to deter future violations; |
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| 213 | 213 | | (4) efforts to correct the violation; and |
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| 214 | 214 | | (5) any other matter that justice may require. |
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| 215 | 215 | | (d) The notice, hearing, and appeal for an administrative |
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| 216 | 216 | | penalty assessed under this section shall be provided or conducted |
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| 217 | 217 | | in the same manner as notice, hearing, and appeals are provided or |
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| 218 | 218 | | conducted under Subchapter M, Chapter 2001. |
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| 219 | 219 | | Sec. 2006.205. CIVIL PENALTY. (a) A person who violates |
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| 220 | 220 | | this chapter or a rule adopted by the commission under this chapter |
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| 221 | 221 | | is liable to the state for a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000 for |
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| 222 | 222 | | each day of violation. |
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| 223 | 223 | | (b) At the request of the commission, the attorney general |
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| 224 | 224 | | shall bring an action to recover a civil penalty authorized by this |
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| 225 | 225 | | section. The attorney general may recover reasonable expenses, |
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| 226 | 226 | | including attorney's fees, incurred in recovering the civil |
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| 227 | 227 | | penalty. |
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| 228 | 228 | | SUBCHAPTER F. LOCAL OPTION ELECTIONS |
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| 229 | 229 | | Sec. 2006.251. ORDERING LOCAL OPTION ELECTION. The |
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| 230 | 230 | | commissioners court of a county may at any time order an election to |
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| 231 | 231 | | legalize casino gaming under this chapter in that county. The |
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| 232 | 232 | | commissioners court shall order and hold an election to legalize |
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| 233 | 233 | | casino gaming under this chapter in the county if the commissioners |
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| 234 | 234 | | court is presented with a petition that meets the requirements of |
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| 235 | 235 | | Section 2006.252 and is certified as valid under Section 2006.253. |
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| 236 | 236 | | Sec. 2006.252. PETITION REQUIREMENTS. (a) A petition for a |
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| 237 | 237 | | legalization election must include a statement substantially as |
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| 238 | 238 | | follows before the space reserved for signatures on each page: |
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| 239 | 239 | | "This petition is to require that an election be held in (name of |
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| 240 | 240 | | county) to legalize casino gaming in (name of county)." |
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| 241 | 241 | | (b) A petition is valid only if it is signed by registered |
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| 242 | 242 | | voters of the county in a number that is not less than three percent |
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| 243 | 243 | | of the total number of votes cast for governor by qualified voters |
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| 244 | 244 | | of the county in the most recent gubernatorial general election. |
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| 245 | 245 | | (c) Each voter must enter beside the voter's signature the |
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| 246 | 246 | | date the voter signs the petition. A signature may not be counted |
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| 247 | 247 | | as valid if the date of signing is earlier than the 90th day before |
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| 248 | 248 | | the date the petition is submitted to the commissioners court. |
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| 249 | 249 | | (d) Each voter must provide on the petition the voter's |
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| 250 | 250 | | current voter registration number, printed name, and residence |
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| 251 | 251 | | address, including zip code. |
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| 252 | 252 | | Sec. 2006.253. VERIFICATION. (a) Not later than the fifth |
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| 253 | 253 | | day after the date a petition for an election under this chapter is |
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| 254 | 254 | | received in the office of the commissioners court, the |
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| 255 | 255 | | commissioners court shall submit the petition for verification to |
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| 256 | 256 | | the county clerk. |
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| 257 | 257 | | (b) The county clerk shall determine whether the petition is |
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| 258 | 258 | | signed by the required number of registered voters of the county. |
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| 259 | 259 | | Not later than the 30th day after the date the petition is submitted |
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| 260 | 260 | | to the clerk for verification, the clerk shall certify in writing to |
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| 261 | 261 | | the commissioners court whether the petition is valid or invalid. |
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| 262 | 262 | | If the clerk determines that the petition is invalid, the clerk |
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| 263 | 263 | | shall state the reasons for that determination. |
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| 264 | 264 | | Sec. 2006.254. ORDERING ELECTION. If the county clerk |
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| 265 | 265 | | certifies that a petition is valid, not later than the 30th day |
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| 266 | 266 | | after the date of certification, the commissioners court shall |
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| 267 | 267 | | order that an election be held in the county on the next uniform |
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| 268 | 268 | | election date under Section 41.001, Election Code, that allows |
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| 269 | 269 | | sufficient time to comply with applicable provisions of law, |
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| 270 | 270 | | including Section 3.005, Election Code. The commissioners court |
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| 271 | 271 | | shall state in the order the issue to be voted on in the election. |
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| 272 | 272 | | The county clerk shall notify the commission by certified mail, |
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| 273 | 273 | | return receipt requested, that an election has been ordered. |
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| 274 | 274 | | Sec. 2006.255. BALLOT PROPOSITION. The ballot in a |
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| 275 | 275 | | legalization election shall be printed to provide for voting for or |
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| 276 | 276 | | against the proposition: "Legalizing casino gaming within (name of |
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| 277 | 277 | | county)." |
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| 278 | 278 | | Sec. 2006.256. ELECTION RESULTS. (a) If the majority of |
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| 279 | 279 | | the votes cast in a legalization election favor the legalization of |
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| 280 | 280 | | casino gaming, casino gaming authorized under this chapter is |
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| 281 | 281 | | authorized within the county holding the election effective on the |
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| 282 | 282 | | 10th day after the date of the election. |
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| 283 | 283 | | (b) The commissioners court of a county in which a |
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| 284 | 284 | | legalization election has been held shall give written notice of |
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| 285 | 285 | | the results of the election to the commission not later than the |
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| 286 | 286 | | third day after the date the election is canvassed. |
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| 287 | 287 | | (c) If less than a majority of the votes cast in a |
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| 288 | 288 | | legalization election in any county are cast in favor of the |
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| 289 | 289 | | legalization of casino gaming, casino gaming is not authorized in |
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| 290 | 290 | | the county, and a subsequent election on the issue may not be held |
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| 291 | 291 | | in the county before the corresponding uniform election date one |
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| 292 | 292 | | year after the date of the election. |
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| 293 | 293 | | (d) If less than a majority of the votes cast in two |
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| 294 | 294 | | consecutive legalization elections within any county are cast in |
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| 295 | 295 | | favor of the legalization of casino gaming, casino gaming is not |
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| 296 | 296 | | authorized in the county, and a subsequent election on the issue may |
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| 297 | 297 | | not be held in the county before the corresponding uniform election |
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| 298 | 298 | | date five years after the date of the second election. |
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| 299 | 299 | | SECTION 2. Section 411.108(a-1), Government Code, is |
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| 300 | 300 | | amended to read as follows: |
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| 301 | 301 | | (a-1) The Texas Lottery Commission is entitled to obtain |
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| 302 | 302 | | from the department criminal history record information maintained |
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| 303 | 303 | | by the department that relates to: |
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| 304 | 304 | | (1) a person licensed under Chapter 2001, Occupations |
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| 305 | 305 | | Code, or described by Section 2001.3025, Occupations Code; or |
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| 306 | 306 | | (2) a person holding or applying for a license under |
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| 307 | 307 | | Chapter 2006, Occupations Code. |
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| 308 | 308 | | SECTION 3. Section 466.024(b), Government Code, is amended |
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| 309 | 309 | | to read as follows: |
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| 310 | 310 | | (b) The commission shall adopt rules prohibiting the |
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| 311 | 311 | | operation of any game using a video lottery machine or video gaming |
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| 312 | 312 | | machine, except in accordance with Chapter 2006, Occupations Code. |
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| 313 | 313 | | SECTION 4. Section 47.02(c), Penal Code, as effective April |
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| 314 | 314 | | 1, 2019, is amended to read as follows: |
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| 315 | 315 | | (c) It is a defense to prosecution under this section that |
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| 316 | 316 | | the actor reasonably believed that the conduct: |
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| 317 | 317 | | (1) was permitted under Chapter 2001, Occupations |
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| 318 | 318 | | Code; |
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| 319 | 319 | | (2) was permitted under Chapter 2002, Occupations |
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| 320 | 320 | | Code; |
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| 321 | 321 | | (3) was permitted under Chapter 2004, Occupations |
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| 322 | 322 | | Code; |
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| 323 | 323 | | (4) was permitted under Chapter 2006, Occupations |
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| 324 | 324 | | Code; |
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| 325 | 325 | | (5) consisted entirely of participation in the state |
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| 326 | 326 | | lottery authorized by the State Lottery Act (Chapter 466, |
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| 327 | 327 | | Government Code); |
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| 328 | 328 | | (6) [(5)] was permitted under Subtitle A-1, Title 13, |
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| 329 | 329 | | Occupations Code (Texas Racing Act); or |
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| 330 | 330 | | (7) [(6)] consisted entirely of participation in a |
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| 331 | 331 | | drawing for the opportunity to participate in a hunting, fishing, |
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| 332 | 332 | | or other recreational event conducted by the Parks and Wildlife |
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| 333 | 333 | | Department. |
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| 334 | 334 | | SECTION 5. Section 47.09, Penal Code, is amended by |
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| 335 | 335 | | amending Subsection (a), as effective April 1, 2019, and adding |
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| 336 | 336 | | Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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| 337 | 337 | | (a) It is a defense to prosecution under this chapter that |
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| 338 | 338 | | the conduct: |
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| 339 | 339 | | (1) was authorized under: |
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| 340 | 340 | | (A) Chapter 2001, Occupations Code; |
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| 341 | 341 | | (B) Chapter 2002, Occupations Code; |
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| 342 | 342 | | (C) Chapter 2004, Occupations Code; |
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| 343 | 343 | | (D) Chapter 2006, Occupations Code; |
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| 344 | 344 | | (E) Subtitle A-1, Title 13, Occupations Code |
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| 345 | 345 | | (Texas Racing Act); or |
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| 346 | 346 | | (F) [(E)] Chapter 280, Finance Code; |
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| 347 | 347 | | (2) consisted entirely of participation in the state |
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| 348 | 348 | | lottery authorized by Chapter 466, Government Code; or |
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| 349 | 349 | | (3) was a necessary incident to the operation of the |
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| 350 | 350 | | state lottery and was directly or indirectly authorized by: |
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| 351 | 351 | | (A) Chapter 466, Government Code; |
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| 352 | 352 | | (B) the lottery division of the Texas Lottery |
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| 353 | 353 | | Commission; |
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| 354 | 354 | | (C) the Texas Lottery Commission; or |
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| 355 | 355 | | (D) the director of the lottery division of the |
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| 356 | 356 | | Texas Lottery Commission. |
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| 357 | 357 | | (c) Subsection (a)(1)(D) applies to a person manufacturing, |
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| 358 | 358 | | possessing, or operating a gambling device under a license under |
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| 359 | 359 | | Chapter 2006, Occupations Code. |
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| 360 | 360 | | SECTION 6. Chapter 47, Penal Code, is amended by adding |
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| 361 | 361 | | Section 47.095 to read as follows: |
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| 362 | 362 | | Sec. 47.095. INTERSTATE OR FOREIGN COMMERCE DEFENSE. It is |
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| 363 | 363 | | a defense to prosecution under this chapter that a person sells, |
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| 364 | 364 | | leases, transports, possesses, stores, or manufactures a gambling |
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| 365 | 365 | | device with the authorization of the Texas Lottery Commission under |
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| 366 | 366 | | Chapter 2006, Occupations Code, for transportation in interstate or |
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| 367 | 367 | | foreign commerce. |
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| 368 | 368 | | SECTION 7. (a) As soon as practicable after the effective |
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| 369 | 369 | | date of this Act, the Texas Lottery Commission shall adopt the rules |
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| 370 | 370 | | necessary to implement casino gaming in accordance with Chapter |
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| 371 | 371 | | 2006, Occupations Code, as added by this Act. |
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| 372 | 372 | | (b) The Texas Lottery Commission may adopt initial rules for |
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| 373 | 373 | | purposes of implementing casino gaming in accordance with Chapter |
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| 374 | 374 | | 2006, Occupations Code, as added by this Act, that expire not later |
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| 375 | 375 | | than May 1, 2020. Chapter 2001, Government Code, does not apply to |
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| 376 | 376 | | the adoption of those rules. This subsection expires June 1, 2020. |
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| 377 | 377 | | SECTION 8. This Act takes effect December 1, 2019, but only |
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| 378 | 378 | | if the constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to |
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| 379 | 379 | | authorize the operation of 12 casinos in this state by licensed |
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| 380 | 380 | | persons in counties that have approved casino gaming is approved by |
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| 381 | 381 | | the voters. If that amendment is not approved by the voters, this |
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| 382 | 382 | | Act has no effect. |
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